Artificial Intelligence in Education

Information technology, through networking, knowledge-based systems and artificial intelligence, interactive multimedia, and other technologies, plays an increasingly important role, which will even increase in the future, in the way that education is taught and delivered to the student. For this reason, we decided to present some ideas for such learning-training environments in education in this chapter. Like many researchers in other countries, we are also developing a user-friendly general system, designed particularly for solving problems. It is based on experience-based intelligent tutoring systems, and intended primarily for executing better lessons and for students’ self-learning. Like all powerful tools, experience-based AI design approaches must be applied carefully. Without a carefully designed experience and extensive testing, these systems could easily result in unwanted outcomes (such as negative training or increased phobia anxiety). Despite the promise of the early efforts, the best approaches to designing these experiences are still topics of research and debate. Any technology as powerful as AI provokes many general social and ethical questions in all of us. Does AI make killing by remote control too consequence-free? Do AI models systematize existing biases? What will AI do when it enters education? We will try to provide an answer to this question in the following chapter

Does intelligent e-learning tools need more pedagogical methodology or ICT

Evolution in computer and other information communication technologies have made also possibilities to develop intelligente computer-aided learning tools for enhanced learning. Today, most researchers in the field of educational technology seem to be preoccupied with either heuristic, the development of Artificial Intelligence application, or the epistemology, philosophy concerned with the nature and scope (limitations) of knowledge and representation or varius learning theories such as constructivism and conectionism by computer program. The enthusiasm to develop technologicall advanced learning tools resulted in technologies with limited application. The need to develop simple computer-based tools to assist instruction and demonstrate its impressiveness to enhance learning is most important, but those tools desperetly need to be designed with epistemological (didactical) knowledge and integrated into a pedagogical framework. The paper presents researc connected with the design and use of an interactive computer-aided learning tool for enhanced learning and the impact of an interactive computer-aided e-learning tool on students learning achievement. The study was motivated by the need to evaluate the use and effectiveness of computer-aided learning applications as they are used in the instructional environment. The mayor research questions that guided this study are: Does the e-learning tool have a measurable effect on students learning? And what is the impact of the e-learning tool usage on students’ performance? The results of the study proof the impact of usage e-learning tools on students’ performance at knowledge assessment. While using the prepared e-learning tool, the score and the time of complete interactive session were measured

Changing educational theory and practice

How do we think, how do we learn, memorize and dream, how does pleasure come to be, where are the emotions hidden and how do we reach decisions? Cognitive science and neuroscience tries to answer such questions. It tackles the fields of the human mind in an interdisciplinary, even transdisciplinary way – by connecting discoveries from all the disciplines that could shed light on cognitive occurrences. Cognitive science brings together psychology, philosophy, linguistics, artificial intelligence, social sciences and many others. It tries to deal with mental processes in a holistic way and to create a deeper understanding of the field that is empirically closest to us

Young pedagogical centre with extensive experience and knowledge

The contributions gathered in this publication have been prepared within the framework of the Pedagogical Center (PC) of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (FNM) at the University of Maribor, which might seem to be a young center since it has only been established in 2009, nevertheless, the extensive experience and knowledge of its faculty tell a story of a much more established institution. “Pedagogical” is a defining term indicting that the center\u27s activities are focused primarily on pedagogical programmes at FNM and on educating teachers at all levels in the broadest sense of the word. Pedagogical center FNM is a pedagogical research unit, that supports all natural science, mathematical and technology programmes at both the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, as well as the entire University of Maribor, especially the teaching programmes, since after the separation of the large Faculty of Education into three entities - FNM being one of them - its “colour” as well as educational and historical core have been lost. Teacher education at FNM lost previous value and has become much less emphasised than it was the case with its predecessor institution the Faculty of Education. Thus the main aim of the center is to give back to the faculty a part of its previous “colour” as well as to promote and develop educational sciences and their interdisciplinary integration that will certainly mean a step towards guaranteeing quality of work as well as quality of education for all students

Science, human awareness and environmental attitudes

The environment is a system, a complex system, which we are unable to comprehend, let alone truly understand, with the help of simplified models that we, humans, are able to process. Our human understanding of the complexity of a grain of sand simply isn’t enough to construe and adapt the universe! This would require time and knowledge, which we do not have today, and which we will not have for a long time. So, everything is in interpretation. Let us start our stories with some basic truths. The main premise is, that man doesn\u27t need an outside enemy, he\u27s the greatest threat to himself. But he\u27s not just a threat to himself, he\u27s a threat also to everything around him. No living thing on earth destroys it more than it takes for its existence, except for human

New digital competence for science technology and engineering education

In the years 2019-2021 a significant step was made in terms of distance learning, which would have otherwise, in normal circumstances, taken several years. While the solutions applied were the best in the given situation, the question arises of what these solutions imply in terms of longterm, systematic changes. The presented research touches upon three key areas that characterize today’s schools: motivation, atmosphere, and competences of teachers and teacher-training students. The starting point of this research is the premise that the pre-crisis digital competences are simply not good enough for today’s situation, or for the near future. Research results show that such fast-tracked changes and the transition to distance education have led to a significant decrease in the motivation of both, teachers and students, that the general atmosphere has worsened, and that there is a significant decrease in competences to be perceived, especially with regard to social and communication competences. The research shows also that neither teachers nor students are sufficiently qualified to work in the society of the future, in society 5.0. What is needed are actual, real changes in the field of digital literacy and digital competences, also indicated in this research

Classroom climate as a part of contemporary didactical approaches

To achieve successful teaching in the 21st century school, teachers must change their didactical approaches in order to create a stimulating pro-activeness in a pleasant classroom climate for better development of student\u27s achievement. A classroom climate in the present research means the combination of variables within a classroom that work together to promote learning in a comfortable environment. In the present research, classroom\u27s climate will be evaluated, and what kind of influence different didactical approaches have on the atmosphere in the classroom. The classroom climate of two 6th grade classes at a lower secondary school will be studied: a class with traditional methods of teaching and a class with innovative methods, as regards searching for ideas, monitoring the students\u27 progress and giving instructions. Students in both classes filled out a questionnaire with thirteen statements, which included three dimensions of a classroom atmosphere: personal relationship, contribution to the class and research work. The results confirmed a change in the perception of the classroom climate, depending on different innovative didactical approaches. The values of individual dimensions are higher in the class with innovative methods, which was confirmed with a better atmosphere in this class and an increased activeness of the students. When introducing changes in an educational process, it is necessary to establish a positive classroom atmosphere

Artificial intelligence versus human talents in learning process

To highlight the differences between conventional educational systems and CBLS - computer based learning systems. It is useful to consider CBLS, as the class of a system most closely related to artificial intelligence - AI. In such a system, the ultimate goal is to create a virtual duplicate of reality for learning, analysis, training, experimentation, or other purposes. Simulating reality is an approach that may or may not be useful at creating experience. This distinction yield several consequences. In CBLS, behaviour should be as realistic as possible, the representation of environment tends to be uniform and consistent and allowing users to act freely within that environment. To teach users through realistic experience CBLS design techniques can make the experience much more memorable. In such an environment the context and control afforded by design techniques allow the integration of technologies and evaluation of the overall experience. Perhaps it is time to take lessons of CBLS and AI in a learning design and teaching tools seriously. At the beginning we will point out one simple question: could the ideas, methodology and techniques of AI also be applied to a development of relatively serious mind applications and can they substitute human teachers? And the answer will be continued in our paper

Integration of design, modeling and visualization in slovenian primary education

A human being perceives the world spatially, he detects and properly processes distances, size of objects, their shapes and all that is linked to our perceptions of the world. Humans\u27 sensors provide the information about the world around and brain translates this information into thoughts, into ideas. The whole process is completely natural. In the past, due to technological limitations, the human attempted to generalize these ideas and convert them into a form so that he could "record" it on a flat medium, like on paper for example, and because of that he consequently had to develop the ability to "read these records. The term spatial perception was introduced and after that it was established that not everyone has it. To possess spatial perception an abstract way of thinking and higher cognitive abilities are needed. This paper presents an integration of design, three dimensional (3D) modeling and visualization program SketchUp in Design and technology curriculum into Slovenian primary schools. Emphasis is given to the analysis of the past and current condition and situation and on the incorporation of the program into the primary school curriculum. With the strategy assigned in such a way, the abilities that are connected with technological activities are strengthened, spatial intelligence is developed and assimilated. With such an approach two of the key European competences: 1. Mathematical competence and 2. Basic competences in science and technology and digital literacy, are acquired and reinforced